Balloon control for double twist apparatus



one

3,677,72h Patented Feb. 19, 1953 3,977,726 BALLOON ZGNTRGL FOR DOUBLE TWHET APPARATUS Wilhelm Lenlr, Rentscheid-Lennep, Germany, assignor to Banner lldaschinenfahrilr Alrtiengesellschaft, Wuppertal- Oberharmen, Germany Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,577 Claims. (Cl. 57-5833) The invention relates to double twist apparatus with a hollow mantle limiting the outward ballooning of the yarn.

In a double twist apparatus, the yarn is drawn off from a spool mounted in fixed position or freely rotatable on the non-moving spool carrier. The yarn first is conducted through a longitudinal bore in the hollow spindle, then over an accumulator disk, and finally, under balloon formation, to a preliminary draw-off device or directly to the winding mechanism. In the process the yarn receives a double twist. In this manner, two or more yarns of the most diverse types can be twisted together.

It is known that the yarns which are processed on double twist apparatus with free-flying yarn balloons, especially at relatively high speeds of revolution, are exposed, as a consequence of air resistance and centrifugal forces, to a substantial tension load. For many yarns, and especially for W001 or cotton yarns spun from staple fibers of limited length, these tension loads are undesirable because the yarns undergo a severe strain so that they will be overstretched or even break.

It has already been proposed that the double twist apparatus be equipped with a mantle limiting the outward ballooning of the yarn, and it has been recognized that the centrifugal forces acting on the yarns are thereby reduced. On the other hand, however, as a result of the friction between the yarn and the mantle wall, drag forces on the yarn are set up, which forces increase the yarn tension.

To overcome these disadvantages in known double twist apparatus with a mantle limiting the outward ballooning of the yarn, this invention provides means for guiding or accelerating the air flow in the mantle in the spiral direction of movement of the yarn in the balloon and/ or in the direction of the emergence of the yarn from the limiting mantle.

For this purpose, the interior of the limiting mantle can be provided with arrangements for radial and axial directing of the air fiow in the mantle, e.g., with ribs, grooves, vanes or the like running spirally parallel or in a fan shape. Further, the mantle as such can be designed in a form adapted to the yarn balloon and, at one or both of its open ends, it may be tapered up to 30% and more, and additionally may have passages through which pass the belt driving the spindle whorl.

In this manner, the air stream which is generated from the rapidly turning spindle whorl and the belt driving it can be used advantageously for the purposes of the invention. An even better effect can be achieved by arranging deflection balfies on the inside of the limiting mantle near the spindle whorl and the belt driving it, which bafiies the air current generated by the running spindle whorl and the belt into the mantle, which air stream then traverses spirally or in fan form in the direction of the emergence of the yarn from the limiting mantle.

For the further intensification of the air-stream production, it is possible to provide the spindle whorl with fins which generate an additional air stream and drive this into the limiting mantle. Likewise, however, it is also possible to arrange on or in one or the other end of the limiting mantle a propeller fan which is equipped with a special drive. Finally, as a still further alternative, compressed air lines can be connected into the limiting mantle, which lines issue air into the mantle where it is conveyed inside the mantle, preferably tangentially with respect to the inside walls of the mantle to give a spiralling air flow pattern.

The objectives and advantages of this invention are set forth in this description and the claims, embodiments of which invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which, by way of illustration, shows preferred embodiments of the invention and principles thereof and What is now considered to be the best modes contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawing, several embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation in diametric cross section of a double twist apparatus with one embodiment of a balloon-limiting mantle of the invention;

FIGURES 2 and 3 .each are side elevations in diametric cross section of additional embodiments with special devices for radial and axial guiding of the air flow inisde the limiting mantle;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of two double twist spindles in a bank of similar spindles, each with a balloonlimiting mantle, one mantle being shown in section on a transverse plane;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, detail view of the interlocking connection of a two part mantle which is shown in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of the whorl and hollow mantle with another embodiment for causing air to flow through the mantle.

The embodiments of FIGURES l to 3 utilize any suitable double twist spindle construction such as one in which a gang of spindles are driven by way of belt 1 with the latter pressing against one side of the spindle whorl 2. On the non-rotating spool carrier 3 are placed, either stationary or freely rotatable thereon, one or more spools 4 of yarn. From the latter the yarn or yarns are drawn oif overhead into and through the longitudinal bore 5 of the spindle. The yarn exits from the bore into the accumulator ring 6 in the rotating twisting head 7. After ballooning into balloon B, it is drawn through the thread guide eye 8 by a preliminary drawing-oil mechanism or winding device (not shown).

Concentrically about the spindle there is mounted the balloon-limiting mantle 9 which is, for example, attached to the machine frame 20 and is connected with the adjoining mantle in the manner shown in FIGURE 4, The mantle 9 prevents the yarn balloon from freely developing the centrifugal forces, which would otherwise be set up in the rotating yarn, by limiting the outward spread of the balloon.

In accordance with the invention, the balloon-limiting mantle 9 of FIGURE 1 is designed with funneltype tapering segment 10 at its lower end, which segment has slits or openings 11 for the passage therethrough of the belt 1. Near the belt 1 and the revolving spin dle parts situated under the yarn balloon, and especially adjacent the conical segment 12 of the whorl, there may 3. be mounted on the inner wall of the tapered part 10, as shown in the left-hand twist spindle shown in section in FIGURE 4, scoop-shaped guide or deflection vanes 13, which direct the air stream generated by these rapidly running parts spirally through the mantle 9 toward its opposite open end. The spiral air flow reduces the drag by air opposing the rotational movement of the yarn in the yarn balloon.

The vanes 13 direct the spiral rotation of the air stream in a direction of rotation the same as the direction of rotation of the yarn balloon.

For further providing an impetus to spiral air flow, the inside of the entire mantle 9 or at least its greater part may have spiral grooves or ribs 14. These grooves or ribs may be parallel or may take a fan pattern with respect to one another, as is shown in the embodiments of FIGURES 2 and 3, respectively. In these two embodiments the balloon-limiting mantle 9 is also tapered at its upper end 15, whereby the mantleis'to a great 8X- tent shaped to accommodate the balloon form.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 2, thecu'rrent'in the mantle is intensified by impeller blades or fins 16 ar-] ranged on the upper part of the spindle whorl' 2. They impel air into and through the mantle 9 in the direction of the yarn course in the balloon, a'spiral impetus being provided by the ribs 14. In FIGURE 3, there is a bladed fan 18 mounted on the carrier arm 17, in turn mounted in the upper part of thelimiting' mantle. The suction fan 18 has an independent belt drive 19 and serves the purpose of drawing an air stream through the limiting mantle in the direction of the thread course in the balloon, which stream may be given a spiral inipetus by the ribs 14 in a mantle provided therewith.

For simpler handling in operation, the balloon-limiting mantle 9, as represented in FIGURE 4, right, can be divided longitudinally into two halves, each with semicylindrical segments 21 and 22, of which the half 21 is rigidly mounted by means of the arm 23 on the machine frame. It is connected to similar adjacent halves 21 by bolting together the bracket arms 24' on each side with corresponding bracket arms on adjacent halves. Each half 22 is releasably connected to a half 21 and is equipped with a handle 27. In FIGURE 5, a spring snap lock is utilized, which look comprises a leaf spring 25 mounted on half 22. This spring 25 snaps over and holds the protuberance 26 on half 21. In the joint there may be placed an elastic strip 28. The two semi-cylindrical segments in assembled relationship form a hollow cylindrical segment with a tapered end or ends, as desired.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 6, one means for introducing compressed air into the mantle 9 is illustrated, the mantle 9 in FIGURE 6 being similar to the mantles of FIGURES 2. and 3 with or without the ribs 14. A circular manifold 29 is mounted in surrounding relationship about the tapered segment 10. This manifold communicates with a pipe 30 which in turn is connected to a source of air under pressure (not shown). The air in the manifold 29 flows through take-oil pipes 31 which extend into and terminate just inside of the mantle 9, preferably in the tapered segment 10 or immediately thereabove. The take-off pipes 31 discharge the air inside the mantle 9 in a direction which is substantially tangential to the inner Wall of the mantle. The air stream flows upwardly in a spiral pattern and is dis charged out the upper opening of the mantle. The di rection of discharge of the air from the take-off pipes may be horizontal, especially where the mantle contains vanes or ribs such as those illustrated in FIGURES 2-4 which provide an upward deflection of the air, or the take-oft pipes may be directed upwardly at an acute angle to the horizontal as well as tangentially with respect to the inner wall of the mantle 9.

All these measures serve ultimately solely the purpose of stimulating or accelerating the air flow in the mantle so that the air resistance and the drag effect, to which the yarn balloon revolving in the limiting mantle is exposed, is not only reduced but, so far as possible, even fully eliminated by providing additionally on the yarn balloon a thrust force. In this connection, the arrangement of spiral and, possibly, fan-type ribs on the inside wall of the limiting mantle acquires an increased signifi cance since these make possible the movement of the yarn at a distance from the inside wall of the mantle and thereby the excitation of the air flow up to the boundary layer. As tests have shown, it is possible to reduce the yarn tension otherwise normally imparted to the yarn in processing on a double twist apparatus and resulting largely from the yarn balloon by 15 to 20%, and with use of additional air-impelling means, considerably more. This gives considerably less tension in the double twisting of delicate ,yarns. With less delicate yarns, the balloon speed and twist velocity, and thereby the output of goods, can be increased.

It will thus be seen fromthe foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, that the present invention provides new and improved yarn twisting units having novel features, advantages and characteristics and accomplishing its intended objectives, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. A yarn twisting device comprising twisting means for double twisting a yarn while rotating the yarn in a balloon pattern, a mantle about said means for limiting the outward ballooning of the yarn, a whorl for rotatably driving said twisting means, and means including an inwardly tapered lower end of said mantle immediately adjacent said whorl' for causing air flow through Said mantle in at least one of the directions of movement of the yarn in the yarn balloon and of the direction of emergence of said yarn from said mantle, said air flow being induced by the rotation of said whorl and movement of a belt in driving engagement with said whorl.

2. A yarn twisting device comprising twisting means for double twisting a yarn while rotating the yarn in a balloon pattern, a whorl for rotatably driving said twisting means, a mantle about said means for limiting the outward ballooning of the yarn, an inwardly tapered lower end on said mantle positioned immediately adjacent to said whorl, and spiral air-flow directingmeans inside said mantle for directing air flow through said mantle in a spiral direction, said air flow being induced by the rotation of said whorland movement of a belt in driving engagement with said whorl.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said spiral air-flow directing means comprises a series of parallel, spiral ribs on the inside wall of said mantle.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said spiral air-flow directing means comprises a series of spiral ribs which diverge with respect to each other into a fan-shaped pattern.

5. The device of claim I wherein said mantle surrounds at least a part of said whorl whereby air currents created by the rotating whorl cause air to flow in said mantle.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein a series of deflection vanes are mounted inside said mantle adjacent said whorl for directing the air currents created by said rotating whorl in a spiral pattern.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said whorl has a frusto-conical end tapering outwardly into the inwardly tapered lower end of said mantle.

8. A yarn twisting device comprising twisting means for double twisting a yarn while rotating the yarn in a balloon pattern, a mantle about said twisting means for limiting the outward ballooning of the yarn, spiral air-flow directing means inside said mantle for directing air flow through said mantle in a spiral direction, a rotatable whorl 5. on said twisting means, a belt frictionally engaging and driving said whorl, and a series of air impelling fins mounted on said whorl for propelling air through said mantle.

9. A yarn twisting device comprising twisting means for double twisting a yarn while rotating the yarn in a balloon pattern, a mantle about said twisting means for limiting the outward ballooning of the yarn, spiral airflow directing means inside said mantle for directing air flow through said mantle in a spiral direction, and a rotatable suction fan for drawing air through said mantle, said fan being located in said mantle in the end of said mantle from which said yarn emerges.

10. A yarn twisting device comprising twisting means for double twisting a yarn while rotating the yarn in a bal- 15 loon pattern, a mantle about said twisting means for limiting the outward ballooning of the yarn, and means for discharging compressed air inside said mantle in streams substantially tangential with respect to the inside wall of said mantle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 539,561 Whitaker May 21, 1895 2,603,938 Rodgers July 22, 1952 2,728,185 Vibber Dec. 27, 1955 2,729,050 I-Ionig Jan. 3, 1956 2,745,239 Kingsbury May 15, 1956 2,932,936 Landolt Apr. 19, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 458,692 Germany Apr. 17, 1928 505,038 Germany Aug. 13, 1930 

1. A YARN TWISTING DEVICE COMPRISING TWISTING MEANS FOR DOUBLE TWISTING A YARN WHILE ROTATING THE YARN IN A BALOON PATTERN, A MANTLE ABOUT SAID MEANS FOR LIMITING THE OUTWARD BALLOONING OF THE YARN, A WHORL FOR ROTATABLY DRIVING SAID TWISTING MEANS, AND MEANS INCLUDING AN INWARDLY TAPERED LOWER END OF SAID MANTLE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT SAID WHORL FOR CAUSING AIR FLOW THROUGH SAID MANTLE IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE DIRECTIONS OF MOVEMENT OF THE YARN IN THE YARN BALLOON AND OF THE DIRECTION OF EMERGENCE OF SAID YARN FROM SAID MANTLE, SAID AIR FLOW BEING INDUCED BY THE ROTATION OF SAID WHORL AND MOVEMENT OF A BELT IN DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WHORL. 